Grange aiming to tame Wildcats again

Grange whipped Western Wildcats at Fettes recently and they also won the first men’s Premiership clash, and now the sides clash head-on again in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Glasgow’s National Hockey Centre on Sunday (14.00).

The Edinburgh side, who are the current league champions and currently lead the race for this year’s title, emerged from their EuroHockey Club Trophy, Division One, campaign in Portugal in fourth place after being beaten in a shootout for the bronze medal with Austrian side Arminen.

Grange, however, recorded two wins and a draw in normal time, their only defeat being to Irish cracks Lisnagarvey who won gold in the competition in Lousada.

Western Wildcats, who defend the cup crown, have slipped to third in the Premiership but they have firepower with skipper Rob Harwood plus Fraser Moran, Fraser Calder and evergreen Jonny Christie all danger men.

Kelburne and Watsonians square-up in the second semi-final (16.00) and the Edinburgh side are highly-fancied as Kelburne have been officially relegated from the Premiership, finishing bottom of the table with only three points from their 14 games so far this term.

Coach Chris Caldwell guided his men to a 2-1 victory over Clydesdale at Titwood in the previous round, courtesy of a last gasp strike by Tommy Austin.

He will naturally hope for another shock result but Watsonians are fifth in the top six with 17 points but have lost form dramatically, losing their last three games.

Watsonians player/coach Dan Coultas guided his men to a 3-0 win over Kelburne, one of their five victories in the Premiership, earlier this season and they reached the last four by knocking out Grove Menzieshill in a shoot-out following a 2-2 draw in regulation time.

PICTURE: Action from Grange v Western Wildcats as Fettes by Nigel Duncan